Vinyl album lovers get some excellent news about what happened in 2025

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There’s just something special about the sound of a vinyl record. While many audio enthusiasts agree, you might be wondering what the fuss is about. We’ve become accustomed to listening to music digitally, but a record player offers a richer, more detailed sound experience.

No matter how you enjoy music, the industry is thriving! In 2025, total music revenue in the United States hit a record $11.54 billion, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). While streaming made up the majority (82%), physical sales – especially vinyl records – are also booming, bringing in $1 billion – the most since 1983. It doesn’t look like these listening habits will change anytime soon.

Vinyl records have been steadily gaining popularity for nearly two decades, with sales increasing every year. While 2025 saw impressive numbers, exceeding $1 billion is expected again in 2026. A key driver of this growth is that more and more artists and record labels are releasing new music on vinyl, alongside other formats.

Vinyl albums sales reach a 42-year high in 2025

The recent report from the RIAA isn’t likely to change how record companies and artists use vinyl records. In fact, we might see even more albums released on vinyl. However, a new issue could impact the price you pay for them.

As a vinyl collector, I’m a little worried about something I read. Records are made from a type of plastic called PVC, and that plastic comes from oil. With everything going on and the price of oil going up, it looks like making records is going to get more expensive. And unfortunately, that probably means we’re all going to be paying more for vinyl soon.

This could increase income from the format, but in a way that feels a bit forced. It doesn’t actually mean more albums are being bought – just that each album costs more.

Streaming continues to be a winning format because of its flexibility. You can listen to music anywhere – in the car, at home, or at work – and most listeners now pay for a subscription that gives them access to a vast library of songs, rather than purchasing individual tracks or albums.

By 2025, money earned from paid subscriptions reached $6.4 billion, making up over half (55.3%) of the entire market. The United States currently accounts for nearly half of all vinyl record sales worldwide. For vinyl to keep growing, more countries need to start purchasing physical records – and they’ll be glad they did.

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2026-03-18 18:00